Donegal GAA
Encyclopedia
The Donegal County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association
(GAA) or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards
of the GAA in Ireland
, and is responsible for Gaelic games
in County Donegal
. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.
Gaelic football is strongest in the North-East of Donegal, and in the Inishowen area. The South-West and South having more of a soccer tradition.
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Donegal won its first Ulster championship in 1972. This was the year the county earned it's first All Star in the form of Brian McEniff
. A second provincial title followed in 1974. The county won a third provincial title in 1983, this was followed in 1987 by under-21 All Ireland success which provided the basis for the success of the 1990 Ulster Football Final win over Armagh. They would win the Ulster Final again in 1992. Donegal
's greatest footballing accomplishment to date came on September 20, 1992
when they won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
, beating Dublin in the final 0-18 to 0-14.
Brian McEniff
was serving in his second spell as Donegal manager in 1992 when he directed Donegal to the Sam Maguire cup. Man of the match Manus Boyle scored 0-9 (four from play), Gary Walsh had a great save from Vinny Murphy at the end. Donegal contested five successive Ulster finals (1989-1993). They then proceeded to contest the Natiional Football League
final three times (1993 v Dublin, 1995 v Derry, 1996 v Derry) in a four year period without success.
The squad on that day in 1992 was:
G. Walsh, B. McGowan, M. Gallagher, N. Hegarty, D. Reid, M. Gavigan, J.J. Doherty, A. Molloy, B. Murray, J. McHugh, M. McHugh, J. McMullan, D. Bonner, T. Boyle, M. Boyle. Sub: B. Cunningham.
The county would remain without a trophy for 15 years. They contested the 1993 and 1998 Ulster Finals, but lost to Derry on both occasions. Defeat to Armagh in the same contest in 2002, 2004 and 2006 meant another decade without a championship trophy. They contested the 2006 Division 2 Final, but lost to Louth. However, in 2007, for the first time in the history of the county, the senior football team won the National League title. Donegal overcame Mayo
at Croke Park
on Sunday April 22, 2007 with a score line of 0-13 to 0-10. On-route to the final Donegal defeated Cork, Mayo, Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry, Fermanagh and Kildare while drawing with Limerick.
In 2010, after a disappointing Championship, in which Donegal lost at home to Down AET, and lost to Armagh in Crossmaglen by 9 points in the first round of the Qualifiers, John Joe Doherty resigned from his post as the County's Senior Football Manager. The only candidate to replace him was Jim McGuinness
. He was appointed on 26 July 2010.. McGuinness brought Kevin Cassidy and Michael Hegarty out of retirement; introduced many players from the U-21 side he brought to the All Ireland final in 2010; and introduced structure and discipline, something that many observers claimed that many talented Donegal teams between 1993 and 2011 lacked.
McGuinness' fist major success as senior manager was to win the National Football League Division 2 when they beat Laois in Croke Park 2-11 to 0-16 points. They went through this League unbeaten, except for the last league match proper, when they lost to Laois. Before the Division 2 Final, they had topped the Division 2 league and were guaranteed promotion with 4 Wins, 2 Draws, and 1 Loss.
After this victory, expectations for the county were high, with many pundits predicting that Donegal would win the Ulster Championship. Donegal beat Antrim 1-10 to 0-07 in the preliminary round. This was the teams first Championship win in since 2007. This set up an away match to Cavan in whici Donegal once again were the victors with a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-08 . Donegal beat Antrim 1-10 to 0-07. A more ominous test against Tyrone would follow this Cavan victory. The new defensive system developed by Jim McGuinness would be put to the test against a Tyrone team which perfected the blanket defense tactic on the way to three All Ireland Victories. Donegal fought their way to a 2-06 to a 0-09 win.
This set up an Ulster Final meeting against a heavily fancied Derry, which one week prior to Donegal's victory over Tyrone, put 3-14 past an Armagh team which had just overcome 2010 All Ireland Runners Up, Down.
On 17 July 2011, in Clones
, Donegal played in their first Ulster final in five years and their sixth Ulster Final since 1992. In front of a crowd of 28,364 Donegal beat Derry 1-11 to 0-08 Points. This was only the third time in the history of the Ulster Football Championship that a team which played the preliminary round would win the Final. Armagh
did it in 2005, and Cavan
did it 66 years earlier. All the more impressive is that Donegal did not concede more than 9 scores per match on the way to the final and held Antrim, Tyrone and Derry to only 3 points each in the second halves of their respective matches. As at 22 July 2011, the county has the lowest average conceding rate in the country at 8.75 points per game. On July 30th 2011 Donegal travelled to Croke Park in their first All Quarter final in two years to play Kildare.The game began in the first half as quite poor but the 2nd half proved to be more tense as sub Christy Toye scored the only goal of the game, However Kildare brought the game level to drag it to extra-time. As Donegal still looked to be behind two late points from Christy Toye before a long range kick from Kevin Cassidy sealed the Ulster champions in front deep into injury-time.Just as Kildare thought about forcing a replay the final whistle blew to guide Donegal to their first All Ireland Semi-final since 2003.[11].
(Squad who played Antrim the Ulster championship on May 15,2011)
. He was also involved as either a Player or Manager in their first five Provincial Titles. McEniff's role in bringing the county success was pivotal. He won the county's first All Star as a footballer in 1972. He was also involved in the panel as a player in 1974 and as a manager in 1983 and, eventually, managed the county to the 1992 All-Ireland title
which the won. They beat Dublin on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-14.
Brian McIver was appointed as manager in 2006. He brought the team into Division 1, although they lost to Louth in a Division 2 Final reply. He would bring the county it's only National League Title in 2007, beating Mayo in the Final. After the Championship of 2007, McIver stood down from the position of manager, however, he was reinstated before the beginning of the 2008 Championship. In 2008, at a County Board meeting, a motion of No Confidence was tabled by St. Eunan's and Gaoith Dobhair to which McIver felt compelled to resign..
Declan Bonner and Charlie Mulgrew were then appointed as Joint Managers after John Joe Doherty rejected the opportunity to become manager.
However, Doherty entered negotiations before Bonner and Mulgrew were rubber stamped. He was later offered the job for a second time, which he accepted. Bonner and Mulgrew had contested that the procedure which led to the installing of John Joe Doherty as football manager in the county was flawed.
The duo's case was heard November 2008 but had taken 13 days of deliberation for the DRA to reach a verdict. John Joe Doherty
from Naomh Columba was appointed manager at the November county board meeting. John Joe Doherty resigned after a season-ending defeat to Armagh in June 2010.
In July 2010 Jim McGuinness
, the U-21 manager, was appointed as the new senior to succeed John Joe Doherty
. McGuinness guided the county's U21 side to the All-Ireland final in 2010. He was appointed on a 4 year term, with a review after 2 years. His first year in charge brought Donegal the National Football League Division 2 title, promotion to Division 1, the county's first championship win in 4 years, the county's first provincial title in 19 years, and made Donegal the third team in the history of the GAA to win a Provincial Title from the Preliminary Round.
All Star Awards
1972 Brian McEniff
1974 Donal Monaghan
1983 Martin McHugh
1990 Joyce McMullan
1992 Gary Walsh, Matt Gallagher, Martin Gavigan, Anthony Molloy,
Martin McHugh
, James McHugh, Tony Boyle,
1993 John Joe Doherty
2002 Kevin Cassidy
2003 Adrian Sweeney
2006 Karl Lacey
2009 Karl Lacey
2011 Karl Lacey, Kevin Cassidy, Neil McGee
titles, the last senior win in 1932. Donegal has a residue of pre-GAA hurling. The Burt Hibernians brought Donegal the 1906 hurling Championship, defeating Antrim
by 25 points to one. Burt later played in Derry
. In 1923 Donegal fielded a team of three natives augmented with guards and customs officers from hurling counties to win their second Ulster hurling Championship. When they lined out for the semi-final, wearing blue jerseys against Limerick
on a cold, miserable day in Croke Park
, numbers were worn by the players for the first time to help the spectators to distinguish them. They trailed 5-4 to nil at half-time and lost 7-4 to 0-1.
Donegal currently compete in Division 3 of the NHL
and in the Lory Meagher Cup
. They reached the final of the Nicky Rackard Cup
in 2006 were they were defeated by Derry
and 2009 Lory Meagher Cup
where they were defeated by Tyrone
. Both games were played in Croke Park
.
Nicky Rackard Cup
Hurling Awards
2006 Danny Cullen, Aiden Begley
2007 Ger O'Dwyer
2008 Mickey McCann
Under Camogie’s National Development Plan 2010-2015, “Our Game, Our Passion,” Donegal, Kerry, Mayo and Monaghan are to get a total of 14 new clubs by 2015.
Gaelic Athletic Association
The Gaelic Athletic Association is an amateur Irish and international cultural and sporting organisation focused primarily on promoting Gaelic games, which include the traditional Irish sports of hurling, camogie, Gaelic football, handball and rounders...
(GAA) or Donegal GAA is one of the 32 county boards
GAA county
A Gaelic Athletic Association county is a geographic region within the Gaelic Athletic Association , controlled by a county board and originally based on the counties of Ireland as they were in 1884. While the counties of Ireland have changed since the foundation of that date, the GAA counties have...
of the GAA in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, and is responsible for Gaelic games
Gaelic games
Gaelic games are sports played in Ireland under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The two main games are Gaelic football and hurling...
in County Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
. The county board is also responsible for the Donegal inter-county teams.
Gaelic football is strongest in the North-East of Donegal, and in the Inishowen area. The South-West and South having more of a soccer tradition.
Overview
Brian McEniff
Brian McEniff is known in Ireland as being a successful Gaelic football manager.-Early Life:...
. A second provincial title followed in 1974. The county won a third provincial title in 1983, this was followed in 1987 by under-21 All Ireland success which provided the basis for the success of the 1990 Ulster Football Final win over Armagh. They would win the Ulster Final again in 1992. Donegal
Donegal
Donegal or Donegal Town is a town in County Donegal, Ireland. Its name, which was historically written in English as Dunnagall or Dunagall, translates from Irish as "stronghold of the foreigners" ....
's greatest footballing accomplishment to date came on September 20, 1992
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1992
-All-Ireland Final:...
when they won the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
, beating Dublin in the final 0-18 to 0-14.
Brian McEniff
Brian McEniff
Brian McEniff is known in Ireland as being a successful Gaelic football manager.-Early Life:...
was serving in his second spell as Donegal manager in 1992 when he directed Donegal to the Sam Maguire cup. Man of the match Manus Boyle scored 0-9 (four from play), Gary Walsh had a great save from Vinny Murphy at the end. Donegal contested five successive Ulster finals (1989-1993). They then proceeded to contest the Natiional Football League
National Football League (Ireland)
The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
final three times (1993 v Dublin, 1995 v Derry, 1996 v Derry) in a four year period without success.
The squad on that day in 1992 was:
G. Walsh, B. McGowan, M. Gallagher, N. Hegarty, D. Reid, M. Gavigan, J.J. Doherty, A. Molloy, B. Murray, J. McHugh, M. McHugh, J. McMullan, D. Bonner, T. Boyle, M. Boyle. Sub: B. Cunningham.
The county would remain without a trophy for 15 years. They contested the 1993 and 1998 Ulster Finals, but lost to Derry on both occasions. Defeat to Armagh in the same contest in 2002, 2004 and 2006 meant another decade without a championship trophy. They contested the 2006 Division 2 Final, but lost to Louth. However, in 2007, for the first time in the history of the county, the senior football team won the National League title. Donegal overcame Mayo
Mayo GAA
The Mayo County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Mayo GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Mayo and the Mayo inter-county teams.-History:...
at Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
on Sunday April 22, 2007 with a score line of 0-13 to 0-10. On-route to the final Donegal defeated Cork, Mayo, Tyrone, Dublin, Kerry, Fermanagh and Kildare while drawing with Limerick.
In 2010, after a disappointing Championship, in which Donegal lost at home to Down AET, and lost to Armagh in Crossmaglen by 9 points in the first round of the Qualifiers, John Joe Doherty resigned from his post as the County's Senior Football Manager. The only candidate to replace him was Jim McGuinness
Jim McGuinness
Jim McGuinness , is a retired Gaelic footballer and current manager for Donegal senior team, He was a member of the 1992 All-Ireland winning team. He was also a star of Third Level Colleges football winning Sigerson Cups with Tralee in 1998 and 1999 as captain and with University of Ulster,...
. He was appointed on 26 July 2010.. McGuinness brought Kevin Cassidy and Michael Hegarty out of retirement; introduced many players from the U-21 side he brought to the All Ireland final in 2010; and introduced structure and discipline, something that many observers claimed that many talented Donegal teams between 1993 and 2011 lacked.
McGuinness' fist major success as senior manager was to win the National Football League Division 2 when they beat Laois in Croke Park 2-11 to 0-16 points. They went through this League unbeaten, except for the last league match proper, when they lost to Laois. Before the Division 2 Final, they had topped the Division 2 league and were guaranteed promotion with 4 Wins, 2 Draws, and 1 Loss.
After this victory, expectations for the county were high, with many pundits predicting that Donegal would win the Ulster Championship. Donegal beat Antrim 1-10 to 0-07 in the preliminary round. This was the teams first Championship win in since 2007. This set up an away match to Cavan in whici Donegal once again were the victors with a scoreline of 2-14 to 1-08 . Donegal beat Antrim 1-10 to 0-07. A more ominous test against Tyrone would follow this Cavan victory. The new defensive system developed by Jim McGuinness would be put to the test against a Tyrone team which perfected the blanket defense tactic on the way to three All Ireland Victories. Donegal fought their way to a 2-06 to a 0-09 win.
This set up an Ulster Final meeting against a heavily fancied Derry, which one week prior to Donegal's victory over Tyrone, put 3-14 past an Armagh team which had just overcome 2010 All Ireland Runners Up, Down.
On 17 July 2011, in Clones
Clones
Clones is a small town in western County Monaghan, in the 'border area' of the Republic of Ireland. The area is part of the Border Region, earmarked for economic development by the Irish Government due to its currently below-average economic situation...
, Donegal played in their first Ulster final in five years and their sixth Ulster Final since 1992. In front of a crowd of 28,364 Donegal beat Derry 1-11 to 0-08 Points. This was only the third time in the history of the Ulster Football Championship that a team which played the preliminary round would win the Final. Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
did it in 2005, and Cavan
Cavan
Cavan is the county town of County Cavan in the Republic of Ireland. The town lies in the north central part of Ireland, near the border with Northern Ireland...
did it 66 years earlier. All the more impressive is that Donegal did not concede more than 9 scores per match on the way to the final and held Antrim, Tyrone and Derry to only 3 points each in the second halves of their respective matches. As at 22 July 2011, the county has the lowest average conceding rate in the country at 8.75 points per game. On July 30th 2011 Donegal travelled to Croke Park in their first All Quarter final in two years to play Kildare.The game began in the first half as quite poor but the 2nd half proved to be more tense as sub Christy Toye scored the only goal of the game, However Kildare brought the game level to drag it to extra-time. As Donegal still looked to be behind two late points from Christy Toye before a long range kick from Kevin Cassidy sealed the Ulster champions in front deep into injury-time.Just as Kildare thought about forcing a replay the final whistle blew to guide Donegal to their first All Ireland Semi-final since 2003.[11].
Donegal Gaelic Football Squad
- Manager:Jim McGuinnessJim McGuinnessJim McGuinness , is a retired Gaelic footballer and current manager for Donegal senior team, He was a member of the 1992 All-Ireland winning team. He was also a star of Third Level Colleges football winning Sigerson Cups with Tralee in 1998 and 1999 as captain and with University of Ulster,...
- Selectors: Rory GallagherRory Gallagher (footballer)Rory Gallagher is a Gaelic footballer from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He has played with Fermanagh and Cavan intercounty teams as well as a number of club teams including his home club Erne Gaels as well as Dublin side Saint Brigids and Antrims St Gall's...
(Squad who played Antrim the Ulster championship on May 15,2011)
Management
The most successful manager in terms of the Championship was Brian McEniff. He managed Donegal to their one and only Sam Maguire triumph in 1992All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1992
-All-Ireland Final:...
. He was also involved as either a Player or Manager in their first five Provincial Titles. McEniff's role in bringing the county success was pivotal. He won the county's first All Star as a footballer in 1972. He was also involved in the panel as a player in 1974 and as a manager in 1983 and, eventually, managed the county to the 1992 All-Ireland title
All-Ireland Senior Football Championship
The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
which the won. They beat Dublin on a scoreline of 0-18 to 0-14.
Brian McIver was appointed as manager in 2006. He brought the team into Division 1, although they lost to Louth in a Division 2 Final reply. He would bring the county it's only National League Title in 2007, beating Mayo in the Final. After the Championship of 2007, McIver stood down from the position of manager, however, he was reinstated before the beginning of the 2008 Championship. In 2008, at a County Board meeting, a motion of No Confidence was tabled by St. Eunan's and Gaoith Dobhair to which McIver felt compelled to resign..
Declan Bonner and Charlie Mulgrew were then appointed as Joint Managers after John Joe Doherty rejected the opportunity to become manager.
However, Doherty entered negotiations before Bonner and Mulgrew were rubber stamped. He was later offered the job for a second time, which he accepted. Bonner and Mulgrew had contested that the procedure which led to the installing of John Joe Doherty as football manager in the county was flawed.
The duo's case was heard November 2008 but had taken 13 days of deliberation for the DRA to reach a verdict. John Joe Doherty
John Joe Doherty
John Joe Doherty is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Naomh Columba and was a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team who their first and only All-Ireland in 1992. He was nominated an All-Star in 1993...
from Naomh Columba was appointed manager at the November county board meeting. John Joe Doherty resigned after a season-ending defeat to Armagh in June 2010.
In July 2010 Jim McGuinness
Jim McGuinness
Jim McGuinness , is a retired Gaelic footballer and current manager for Donegal senior team, He was a member of the 1992 All-Ireland winning team. He was also a star of Third Level Colleges football winning Sigerson Cups with Tralee in 1998 and 1999 as captain and with University of Ulster,...
, the U-21 manager, was appointed as the new senior to succeed John Joe Doherty
John Joe Doherty
John Joe Doherty is a retired Irish sportsperson. He played Gaelic football with his local club Naomh Columba and was a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team who their first and only All-Ireland in 1992. He was nominated an All-Star in 1993...
. McGuinness guided the county's U21 side to the All-Ireland final in 2010. He was appointed on a 4 year term, with a review after 2 years. His first year in charge brought Donegal the National Football League Division 2 title, promotion to Division 1, the county's first championship win in 4 years, the county's first provincial title in 19 years, and made Donegal the third team in the history of the GAA to win a Provincial Title from the Preliminary Round.
Honours
- All-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Senior Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the premier competition in Gaelic football, is a series of games organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and played during the summer and early autumn...
s: 1- 1992All-Ireland Senior Football Championship 1992-All-Ireland Final:...
- 1992
- All-Ireland Under-21 Football ChampionshipAll-Ireland Under-21 Football ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition for players aged between 18 and 21 in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months...
s: 2- 1982, 1987
- All-Ireland Vocational Schools ChampionshipAll-Ireland Vocational Schools ChampionshipThe All-Ireland Vocational Schools Championship is a Gaelic Athletic Association football and hurling competition. There are two levels of competition. Individual schools compete for county, provincial and All-Ireland competitions...
s:6- 1984, 1985, 1995, 1996, 2002, 2011
- Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipUlster Senior Football ChampionshipFor information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
s: 6- 1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992, 2011Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipFor information on this years competition, see Ulster Senior Football Championship 2011-2010 Draw:-2009 Draw:-2008 Draw:-Top winners:* All-Ireland winning years in bold.-Roll of honour:Notes:* 1907 No final result in records...
- Ulster Minor Football ChampionshipUlster Minor Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Minor Football Championship is the Minor "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council. The trophy for the winning side is The Liam Murray Cup. The competition began in 1930, with...
s: 4 - 1956, 1985, 1991, 1996, 2006,
- Ulster Under-21 Football ChampionshipUlster Under-21 Football ChampionshipFor the Senior equivalent see: Ulster Senior Football ChampionshipThe Ulster Under-21 Football Championship known for sponsorship reasons as the Cadbury Ulster Under-21 Football Championship is a Gaelic football tournament for players under the age of 21, contested by the nine counties of Ulster in...
s: 7 - 1963, 1964, 1966, 1982, 1987, 1995, 2010
- 1972, 1974, 1983, 1990, 1992, 2011
- Ulster Vocational Schools Football Championships: 11
- 1964 1965 1984 1985 1986 1987 1992 1994 1995 1996 2002
- National Football LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
: 1- 2007National Football League (Ireland) 2007The 2007 National Football League was the Gaelic football league, contested by 32 GAA counties football teams, 31 from Ireland and London from England....
- 2007
- National Football LeagueNational Football League (Ireland)The National Football League is a Gaelic football tournament held annually between the county teams of Ireland, under the auspices of the Gaelic Athletic Association. The prize for the winning team is the New Ireland Cup, presented by the New Ireland Assurance Company...
2:1- 2011National Football League (Ireland) 2011The 2011 National Football League was a competition run by the Gaelic Athletic Association between February and April 2011. It was contested by 33 teams, representing the 32 counties of Ireland plus London...
- 2011
- Dr. McKenna Cups: 8
- 1963, 1965, 1967, 1975, 1985, 1991, 2009, 2010
- Dr Lagan CupDr Lagan CupThe Dr Lagan Cup was inter-county Gaelic football competition in the province of Ulster. The competition was discontinued in 1967 when Donegal won the competition. The Lagan Cup was the trophy for a Senior Football League limited to five Ulster counties at a time unlike the Dr McKenna Cup which was...
s: 4- 1952, 1965, 1966, 1967
All Star Awards
1972 Brian McEniff
Brian McEniff
Brian McEniff is known in Ireland as being a successful Gaelic football manager.-Early Life:...
1974 Donal Monaghan
1983 Martin McHugh
Martin McHugh
Martin McHugh is a retired Irish sportsperson.-Playing career:He played Gaelic football with his local club Kilcar and was a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team from the 1980s until the 1990s. He was an All Ireland winner with Donegal in 1992...
1990 Joyce McMullan
1992 Gary Walsh, Matt Gallagher, Martin Gavigan, Anthony Molloy,
Martin McHugh
Martin McHugh
Martin McHugh is a retired Irish sportsperson.-Playing career:He played Gaelic football with his local club Kilcar and was a member of the Donegal senior inter-county team from the 1980s until the 1990s. He was an All Ireland winner with Donegal in 1992...
, James McHugh, Tony Boyle,
1993 John Joe Doherty
2002 Kevin Cassidy
Kevin Cassidy
Kevin Cassidy is an Irish Gaelic footballer from Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. He plays his club football for Gaoth Dobhair and also plays for the Donegal inter-county team. Cassidy is regarded as one of the best attacking wing half-backs of his generation and has also played in midfield. He...
2003 Adrian Sweeney
2006 Karl Lacey
Karl Lacey
Karl Lacey is an inter-county GAA football player with Donegal in Ireland.He was part of the Donegal team that won its first National League title in 2007 in the final against Mayo....
2009 Karl Lacey
Karl Lacey
Karl Lacey is an inter-county GAA football player with Donegal in Ireland.He was part of the Donegal team that won its first National League title in 2007 in the final against Mayo....
2011 Karl Lacey, Kevin Cassidy, Neil McGee
Hurling
There are several hurling clubs in Donegal, but there has been limited inter-county success bar 3 senior and 4 junior UlsterUlster GAA
The Ulster Council is a Provincial council of the Gaelic Athletic Association sports of hurling, Gaelic football, camogie, and handball in the province of Ulster. The headquarters of the Ulster GAA is based in Armagh City....
titles, the last senior win in 1932. Donegal has a residue of pre-GAA hurling. The Burt Hibernians brought Donegal the 1906 hurling Championship, defeating Antrim
Antrim GAA
The Antrim County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Antrim GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Antrim. The county board is also responsible for the Antrim inter-county teams...
by 25 points to one. Burt later played in Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
. In 1923 Donegal fielded a team of three natives augmented with guards and customs officers from hurling counties to win their second Ulster hurling Championship. When they lined out for the semi-final, wearing blue jerseys against Limerick
Limerick GAA
The Limerick County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Limerick GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Limerick...
on a cold, miserable day in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
, numbers were worn by the players for the first time to help the spectators to distinguish them. They trailed 5-4 to nil at half-time and lost 7-4 to 0-1.
Donegal currently compete in Division 3 of the NHL
National Hurling League
The National Hurling League is an annual hurling competition between the county teams of Ireland. Contested by 35 teams , it operates on a system of promotion and relegation between four different divisions, with Division One...
and in the Lory Meagher Cup
Lory Meagher Cup
The Lory Meagher Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2009. It is a competition for the fourth tier of hurling teams in the Gaelic Athletic Association....
. They reached the final of the Nicky Rackard Cup
Nicky Rackard Cup
The Nicky Rackard Cup is a competition for the Tier 3 hurling teams of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The tournament is organised by the [Gaelic Athletic Association]] and is played during the summer months with the final being played in Croke Park, Dublin...
in 2006 were they were defeated by Derry
Derry GAA
The Derry County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Derry GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland. It is responsible for Gaelic games in the GAA county of Derry, which covers virtually the same territory as the former administrative county of Londonderry...
and 2009 Lory Meagher Cup
Lory Meagher Cup 2009
The 2009 Lory Meagher Cup is the inaugural fourth-tier hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association. Seven county teams and one regional team take part in the competition...
where they were defeated by Tyrone
Tyrone GAA
The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the GAA in Ireland, and is responsible for Gaelic games in County Tyrone. The county board is also responsible for the Tyrone inter-county teams....
. Both games were played in Croke Park
Croke Park
Croke Park in Dublin is the principal stadium and headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association , Ireland's biggest sporting organisation...
.
Honours
- Ulster Senior Hurling ChampionshipUlster Senior Hurling ChampionshipThe Ulster Senior Hurling Championship is the premier intercounty "knockout" competition in the game of hurling played in the province of Ulster. The series of games are organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association and are played during the summer months. The Ulster Hurling Final is played in July...
s: 3- 1906, 1923, 1932
- Ulster Junior Hurling ChampionshipUlster Junior Hurling ChampionshipThe Ulster Junior Hurling Championship is a junior "knockout" competition in the game of Hurling played in the province of Ulster in Ireland. The series of games are organised by the Ulster Council....
s: 6- 1947, 1948, 1972, 1989, 2001, 2003
- Nicky Rackard CupNicky Rackard CupThe Nicky Rackard Cup is a competition for the Tier 3 hurling teams of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The tournament is organised by the [Gaelic Athletic Association]] and is played during the summer months with the final being played in Croke Park, Dublin...
- Runners Up: 2006
- Lory Meagher CupLory Meagher CupThe Lory Meagher Cup is an annual hurling competition organised by the Gaelic Athletic Association since 2009. It is a competition for the fourth tier of hurling teams in the Gaelic Athletic Association....
- 2011
- Runners Up: 2009, 2010
- 2011
Nicky Rackard Cup
Nicky Rackard Cup
The Nicky Rackard Cup is a competition for the Tier 3 hurling teams of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The tournament is organised by the [Gaelic Athletic Association]] and is played during the summer months with the final being played in Croke Park, Dublin...
Hurling Awards
2006 Danny Cullen, Aiden Begley
2007 Ger O'Dwyer
2008 Mickey McCann
Camogie
Donegal competed in the Ulster senior championship from the 1930s, hosting Antrim in Letterkenny in 1945. They succeeded in fielding a league team in the 1980s, drawing on the groundwork at Loreto, Letterkenny which fielded successful colleges teams. The Pan Celtic games of 2006 rejuvenated camogie in Donegal and the county returned to competition in the Ulster junior championship in 2008.Under Camogie’s National Development Plan 2010-2015, “Our Game, Our Passion,” Donegal, Kerry, Mayo and Monaghan are to get a total of 14 new clubs by 2015.
External links
- Donegal GAA site
- Donegal on Hoganstand.com
- National and provincial titles won by Donegal teams
- Club championship winners
| Donegal GAA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Affiliated Clubs | ||
| Senior Football Championship | ||
Aodh Ruadh (Ballyshannon) - Ardara - Buncrana - Cloughaneely - Dungloe Dungloe GAA Dungloe GAA is a Gaelic football only GAA club based in Dungloe, County Donegal, Ireland. The club fields both men's and ladies' teams at underage to Senior level.-History:... - Fanad Gaels - Four Masters Four Masters, Donegal GAA Four Masters GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club are located in Donegal town in County Donegal, Ireland.Four Masters G.A.A. Club is based in the parishes of Townawilly and Killymard, Donegal Town... - Glenfin - Glenswilly - Gweedore Gweedore GAA Gaoth Dobhair GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in the parish of Gweedore in northwest County Donegal, Ireland. Their home ground is at Machaire Gathlán, and they are currently the most successful club in the Donegal Senior Football Championship.... - Kilcar Kilcar GAA Kilcar GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Kilcar, County Donegal, Ireland. They have won the county championship on five occasions.... - Killybegs Killybegs GAA Killybegs GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Killybegs, County Donegal, Ireland. The club was founded in 1924 it has teams break up several time in the clubs history. Killybegs play Gaelic football and in the past played Hurling. Killybegs have won the won Donegal Senior Football... - Malin - Naomh Columba - Naomh Conaill - St.Eunan's St Eunan's GAA Naomh Adhamhnáin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. Their home ground is O'Donnell Park.- History :The club was founded in 1927... - St.Michael's - Termon |
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| Intermediate Football Championship | ||
Carndonagh - Bundoran - Downings - Moville - Na Rossa - Naomh Bríd - Naomh Mhuire - Seán MacCumhaill's - St.Naul's - Urris |
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| Junior Football Championship | ||
Letterkenny Gaels - Milford - Muff - Naomh Colmcille - Naomh Mura - Naomh Pádraig, Lifford - Naomh Ultan - Pettigo - Red Hughs,Killygordon - Robert Emmetts - St.Mary's,Convoy- Burt - |
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| Senior Hurling Championship | ||
Aodh Ruadh (Ballyshannon) - Burt - Carndonagh - Four Masters Four Masters, Donegal GAA Four Masters GAA is a Gaelic Athletic Association club are located in Donegal town in County Donegal, Ireland.Four Masters G.A.A. Club is based in the parishes of Townawilly and Killymard, Donegal Town... - Seán MacCumhaill's - St.Eunan's St Eunan's GAA Naomh Adhamhnáin is a Gaelic Athletic Association club based in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. Their home ground is O'Donnell Park.- History :The club was founded in 1927... - Setanta |
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